Girs-Barcz Studio, Torpedo Boat

Silkscreen print, dimensions 30.5 x 23.5 cm (composition within the passe-partout), 40 x 33 cm with passe-partout, signed lower right: ATELIER GRIS-BARCZ 1934.
Atelier Girs-Barcz was founded in 193 by two graphic artists, Anatol Girs and Bolesław Barcz. Initially, the studio was located at 151 Marszałkowska Street. Later, mainly for economic reasons, the studio was moved to 40 Smolna Street, where Franciszek Żmurko had previously had his painting studio.
At “Atelier Girs and Barcz,” in addition to providing comprehensive graphic design services for albums, luxury publications, book bindings, and covers, the artists also designed advertising posters, bookplates, catalogs, brochures, advertising labels, and company letterhead. Thanks to Bolesław Barcz’s skills, the studio also produced portraits, special photomontages, as well as monumental sculptures and interior decorations on special commission.
Initially, although the works were often the individual creations of each artist, they were signed jointly. Most of the portraits in aquatint, lithography, or silkscreen were created by Bolesław Barcz, while the design of graphic layouts and the production of major album publications—as well as negotiations with clients—were the responsibility of Anatol Girs.
In 1938, these graphic artists opened the Oficyna Warszawska at 23 Miodowa Street. Unfortunately, the war brutally cut short the ambitious plans for this new studio, which promoted bibliophile prints. The last work published by the studio was a small book by J. Stępkowski titled “Prayer to the Holy Spirit for Victorious Strength on the Polish Sea,” printed using the “Militari” typeface they had developed and featuring an etching hand-engraved by Barcz.